Mr. Crispy to represent SSAI at Ripley’s Believe it or Not

On 02/28/2015 for the Sixth year Mr. Crispy will be a representative for the Sword Swallower’s Association International during World Sword Swallower’s Day at Ripley’s Believe it or Not. This year Mr. Crispy will be joined with both crow favorites like Shel Higgins, Frankie Stiletto, and Jai Le Bait, who will be swallowing a sword at 9 months pregnant, and new comers Bear Lee, Tara Taylor, and Madison Salmons in Grand Prairie, Tx. to be part of the celebrations. Each year at this event Mr. Crispy pushes his limits for this event and this year will be no different. Mr. Crispy is currently working on beating his personal record for number of swords swallowed. Come out and see how many are accomplished on this special day for all professional Sword Swallower’s.

President Proclaims World Sword Swallower’s Day 2015

Sword Swallowers celebrate by swallowing together
at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums worldwide!

(SSAI) – On February 28, 2015, Sword Swallowers around the world will celebrate World Sword Swallower’s Day 2014 by doing what they do best — Swallowing swords!

Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer announced the 7th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day to raise awareness of sword swallowers worldwide. Founded by SSAI and co-sponsored by Ripley Entertainment, World Sword Swallower’s Day 2015 will be observed on February 28th at 2:28 pm in conjunction with February as National Swallowing Disorders Month.

“Last year we had 43 sword swallowers swallow 76 swords at 18 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide. This year we expect to break that record and have even more sword swallowers participate!” says Meyer.

“Sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform sword swallowing for over 4000 years,” explains Meyer. “But many people either don’t believe what we do is real, or they think the art has died out.”

“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to promote this ancient art still carried on by a few dozen surviving performers — to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made in the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, and to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund.” Meyer explains.

“Most of all, we do it to correct myths and educate the public and medical professionals by doing free demonstrations for the public and media around the world on this day.”

“Many of us have been performing for years and we love our work!” explains Meyer, a 35-time world record holding sword swallower who performs at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums and speaks in 25 countries around the world. Last year for World Sword Swallower’s Day 2013, Meyer Buy Ambien Over The Counter. “World Sword Swallower’s Day is a great chance for us to show the world what we really do and how we do it!”

“Most people don’t realize the contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of science and medicine over the past 150 years.” Meyer explains. In 1868, a sword swallower was used by Dr. Adolf Kussmaul in Freiburg Germany to develop the first rigid endoscopy. In 1906 a sword swallower underwent the first esophageal electrocardiogram in Wales.

Other sword swallowers have been prodded and examined by doctors and scientists at medical centers over the past 150 years without recognition.

In 2006, the first comprehensive medical study on sword swallowing, Buy Zolpidem In Mexico, was published by the prestigious British Medical Journal. Co-authored by Meyer and British radiologist Dr. Brian Witcombe, the historic two-year study was the first comprehensive medical research conducted on sword swallowers in the 4000 year history of the art. The research won its authors the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.

Since some sword swallowers perform charitable work for the medical community to raise awareness of esophageal cancer, dysphagia, GERD, and other upper gastro-intestinal and swallowing disorders, SSAI encourages sword swallowers to perform demonstrations at medical facilities throughout the day. Sword swallowers will also perform at hospitals, nursing homes, and orphanages for those who would otherwise have difficulty getting to theaters to see live performances.

“Sword swallowers who participate in these activities find them rewarding,” explains Meyer. “Many people who have never had the opportunity to see sword swallowing firsthand will finally have a chance to witness it!”

“Because sword swallowing is so rare, sword swallowers usually perform solo,” Meyer says. “World Sword Swallower’s Day gives us a chance to work together to be part of something bigger.”

Why is Ripley co-sponsoring World Sword Swallower’s Day? “Because it’s great entertainment!” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “Sword swallowers and Ripley go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium set up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. There, three performers, two of whom were ladies, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”

“It’s a huge honor for us to carry on the tradition of sword swallowers who have performed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums over the years.” Meyer explains.

“In light of this, SSAI is extending an open invitation to sword swallowers worldwide to join us in celebrating World Sword Swallower’s Day by swallowing swords with us at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditoriums around the world.”

August 9th, 2012 will mark 10 years of running the Crispy Family Carnival and to celebrate we’re heading back to where it all began. August 10th, 11th and 12th you can see the Crispy Family Carnival at the Denver County Fair. This will be the first time I’ve reunited with the only talker the show every used Ukulele Loki who was a founding member of the cast and help write many of the early acts we still perform now. The creative process was always fun, I’d learn a new stunt and after convincing Loki it wasn’t going to kill me we’d start kicking around ideas for how we wanted to present it. It’s sad that my current cast can’t escape their day jobs to be a part of this weekend, but it will be fun to be back in Denver and will be nice to have time for just my wife and I to travel.

Running a show like this continually for the past ten years have been a constant learning experience that will probably continue for many more years. I’ve gone from a large ensemble cast and a talker to keep the flow, to finding the voice to talk my own show when I came home to Oklahoma and couldn’t find a suitable talker. I’ve worked with many talented individuals and some that just wanted along for the ride. Today the show is run tight and lean rather than having several one trick ponies I have an amazing musician in Acoustic Ross, and remarkable assistants in Tangy Tart and Vanessa Von Thun. I’ve met some of the most kind hearted people on earth and some of the lowest self centered characters I’ve ever run across. The challenges have nearly made me hang up my top hat but once on stage, the smiles, cheers, and knowing I’ve entertained yet another crowd lets me know I’ll be at this so long as I’m physically capable of taking the stage.

The Queen of Blades show features the lovely assistants of the sideshow. This forty-five minute show pits Mr. Crispy’s brave beauties against throwing knives, machetes, and even the classic Sideshow Bladebox. This show has all the excitement you’ve come to expect of the Crispy Family Carnival with the always present family friendly lighthearted approach. The Queen of Blades show focuses on a combination of sideshow classics and circus skills in a thrill a minute show that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is excitement for children of all ages, a unique combination of skill, strength, and courage. This show is perfect for carnival themes corporate parties, street fairs, and festivals. In addition to the daring vixens, Mr. Crispy will display several of the time honored favorites of the sideshow such as fire eating, sword swallowing, and much more.

The Owie show is a little more intense with a focus on Mr. Crispy’s modern Fakir* acts. You’ll see amazing feats of pain and skill including the human pincushion, fire eating, Sword swallowing, the bed of nails, a really twisted take on the William Tell story, and much more. You’ll even have a chance to show your appreciation by tipping Mr. Crispy via a carpenters staple gun. The acts may be extreme but all are presented in the Crispy Family Carnival’s unique lighthearted family friendly approach to entertainment. Acoustic Ross and Mr. Crispy’s beautiful assistant will give the audience a reprieve throughout the show.

The Owie Show is one of the most popular shows for all ages, the children see the humor and think Mr. Crispy is a goofy super hero, the teens are amazed to realize these ancient feats still exist, and the adults thank the heavens Mr. Crispy isn’t their son while secretly enjoying the shock of these timless demonstrations of the bizarre! This is a show they’ll talk about for years to come.

The Owie Show is also great for high schools or colleges, teachers and professors can use these demonstrations as examples of science, biology, psychology, and even history.**

*originally, a mendicant dervish. Although of Muslim origin, the term has come to be applied inIndia to Hindus as well, largely replacing gosvamin, sadhu, bhikku, and other designations. Fakirs are generally regarded as holy men who are possessed of miraculous powers, such as the ability towalk on fire. Today, through years of training, the modern Fakir is a person who performs many of these holy men’s feats showing the body’s remarkable resilience, the ability to perform past pain, and to channel this experience into entertaining demonstrations.

**These feats require the performer to have a high understanding of the science and biology to understand how to safely perform these feats. In addition the performer must overcome both primal fears and the bodies natural aversion to these experiences. Many of these feats originate from ancient times and the art of sideshow itself is very much an American institution.

MUNCIE, IN (SSAI) – On February 25th, Sword Swallowers around the world will celebrate World Sword Swallower’s Day by doing what they do best — Swallowing swords!

Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer announced the 6th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day to raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world. Founded by SSAI and co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, World Sword Swallower’s Day is set for February 25th in conjunction with February as National Swallowing Disorders Month.

In celebration of World Sword Swallower’s Day, more than20 sword swallowers are expected to “drop swords” at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide on Saturday, February 25th at 2:25pm.

“We sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform sword swallowing for over 4000 years,” explains Meyer. “But many people either don’t believe it’s real, or they think the art has died out.”

“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to promote this ancient art still carried on by a few dozen surviving practitioners, to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made in the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, and to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund.” Meyer explains. “Most of all, we do it to correct myths and educate the public and medical professionals by doing demonstrations for the public and media around the world.”

“Many of us have been performing for years, and we love our work,” explains Meyer, a multiple Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Guinness World Record holder who performs around the world. “World Sword Swallower’s Day is a great opportunity for us to show the public what we really do!”

“Most people don’t realize the contributions sword swallowers have made to medical science over the past 150 years.” Meyer explains. In 1868, a sword swallower was used by Dr. Adolf Kussmaul in Freiburg Germany to develop the first rigid endoscopy. In 1906 a sword swallower underwent the first esophageal electrocardiogram in Wales. Other sword swallowers have been prodded and examined by doctors and medical institutes without recognition over the past 150 years. “We want to change all that. That’s why we observe World Sword Swallower’s Day.” Meyer explains.

In 2006, the British Medical Journal published the first international medical study of the art entitled “Sword Swallowing and its side effects”. Co-authored by Meyer and Dr. Brian Witcombe, the two-year research study was historic as being the first serious medical research in the 4000 year history of sword swallowing. The study won its authors the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.

Why is Ripley co-sponsoring it? “Because it’s great entertainment!” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “Sword swallowers and Ripley go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium set up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. There, three performers, two of whom were ladies, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”

On February 25th, sword swallowers will perform around the world at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums including London, New York City, Hollywood, Orlando, St. Augustine, Panama City, Branson, MO, and Gatlinburg, TN. “Most of us usually perform alone,” Meyer says. “World Sword Swallower’s Day gives us all a chance to work together to be part of something bigger.”

Tulsan Charles Knight, known to fans as Mr. Crispy, will load up his circus family to entertain patrons at Branson’s Ripley’s Believe it or not for an afternoon of laughs and wonders culminating in exhibition of sword swallowing including his signature modern light sword. Joining Mr. Crispy will be Tulsa’s favorite Anti-Folk singer Acoustic Ross and the newest member of the carnival, alternative model Vanessa Von Thun.

“It’s a huge honor for us to carry on the tradition of sword swallowers who have performed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums over the years.” Meyer explains. “In light of this, SSAI is extending an open invitation to all sword swallowers around the world to contact us and join us in swallowing swords at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums and other locations on the 25th!” Performances are scheduled to take place on 2/25/12 at 2:25:12 pm local time.

AboutSword Swallowing

The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the circus sideshow over the past 50 years, there are less than a few dozen full-time

professional sword swallowers actively performing around the world today.

AboutThe Crispy Family Carnival

Founded in 2002, the Crispy Family Carnival is currently in its tenth year of providing jaw dropping family entertainment. The Crispy Family Carnival is an authentic troupe of Sideshow performers preserving those traditional acts that were kicked out of the American circus during the era of political correctness. The difference between a magician and a sideshow performer is that a magician relies on tricks while a Sideshow performer relies on his or her own strength, endurance, and downright insanity to perform body bending acts, guaranteed to shock and enliven. Their lighthearted approach to the macabre has made audiences across the nation gasp with horror and squeal with delight.

About theSword Swallowers AssociationInternational

The SwordSwallowers Association International, founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world, and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at Order Adipex Online Legally

AboutRipley Entertainment

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries. In addition to its 32 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

LOCALSWORD SWALLOWERS AVAILABLEfor interviews, comments, and medical demonstrations. To schedule a sword swallower for events in your area on February 25, or for more information on WorldSwordSwallower’sDay, please contact us.

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Don’t Just Spice Up Your Event, Make It Crispy!

Bring your audience an experience they'll be talking about for years to come! The Crispy Family Carnival is fun for entire families, while light hearted and interactive enough for the young ones, the show is thrilling enough to keep the adults on the edge of their seats. The Crispy Family will be the talk of your next festival, fair, or corporate event.